Poetry Explorer

Classic and Contemporary Poetry

WHEN OATS WERE REAPED by THOMAS HARDY

Poet Analysis

First Line: THAT DAY WHEN OATS WERE REAPED, AND WHEAT WAS RIPE, AND BARLEY RIPENING
Last Line: NOR A BILL OF ANY BIRD; AND NO RESPONSE ACCORDED SHE.
THAT day when oats were reaped, and wheat was ripe, and
barley ripening,
The road-dust hot, and the bleaching grasses dry,
I walked along and said,
While looking just ahead to where some silent people lie:

'I wounded one who's there, and now know well I wounded her;
But, ah, she does not know that she wounded me!'
And not an air stirred,
Nor a bill of any bird; and no response accorded she.



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